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Narcotics Anonymous

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a nonprofit, community-based organization for recovering drug addicts. It is a 12-step recovery organization modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) that emerged in the early 1950s in Los Angeles, California.

The organization originally started as a small U.S. organization and grew fairly slowly and erratically. In the 1960s there was a decline in the program; however, in 1972, the organization opened its World Service Office in southern California, uniting the organization. The organization has since grown into one of the world's oldest and largest organizations of its kind. It is currently the second largest 12-step organization.

NA describes addiction as a progressive disease without a cure that affects an addict's entire life: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. NA suggests recovery is possible through their twelve-step program. The NA program prefers the term addiction to indicate that addicts have a disease, in which drug use may be just one symptom.

Program

NA is a self-supporting organization that relies on member contributions and does not accept any financial support from nonmembers. The organization does not endorse or take positions on anything outside of the NA Organization. Additionally, it does not oppose any other organization. The organization is not affiliated with any other organizations, including other treatment programs, political organizations, or correctional facilities. NA is therefore able to solely focus on its area of purpose: helping members recover from addiction and remain drug free. NA does not employ any professionals, such as counselors or therapists, nor does it provide any residential facilities, vocational training, or medical services and treatment clinics. It attracts new members by supplying outside organizations with factual information regarding the program.

NA does not have any social, religious, economic, racial, or class restrictions to membership, and does not require any fees or dues. Membership is open to all drug addicts, men and women, who have a desire to stop using. The program provides a process of recovery through a peer support network. A key to the therapeutic intervention is addicts working with one another to keep each other abstinent from all mood-and mind-altering substances (including marijuana and alcohol) and to find a new way to live.

The program makes use of the tools that have worked for other addicts to help them stay drug free. Members meet regularly to talk about their own experiences while in recovery. More experienced members work with individuals who are newer to the group. As in AA, these more experienced members are known as sponsors.

The program firmly believes that complete abstinence provides the best foundation for recovery and personal growth. The program as a whole does not hold opinions concerning outside issues, such as prescription medication, politics, or science. Additionally, the use of prescribed medication is not seen as compromising an individual's personal recovery. At the core of the program are the 12 Steps, and the 12 Traditions of NA. Narcotics Anonymous is a non-religious program of recovery; however, each member is encouraged to have an individual understanding of spiritual principles and to apply them in everyday life.

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